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GET READY FOR THE 2014 MID-TERM ELECTIONS

– Next week, there are many decisions to be made. Will you participate?

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Here it finally comes, with less than a week to go. I am, of course, talking about the American Mid-Term elections on November 4th. The question is; will you be an active voter or sit on the sidelines? The Mid-Terms usually draw fewer voters than presidential election years. Republicans normally rally during these elections, which is why Democrats are nervous about the 2014 election outcome.

Back in June, I wrote a column entitled, “How Obama is undermining Democrats,” whereby I discussed how the president’s decisions regarding his bungling of foreign affairs (“leading from behind”), the terrorist exchange, and his War on Energy, was making it difficult for his party to maintain control of the Senate. Now, four months later, with his shaky policies regarding ISIS, Ebola, and immigration, President Obama continues to lose the trust not only of the American people but his own party as well. Polls show his approval ratings continue to decline.

Just about every poll gives an edge to the Republicans to reclaim the Senate, but it certainly is not a slam dunk. According to RealClearPolitics (RCP), an independent news organization which maintains an up-to-date pulse of elections, projections show 46 Senate seats controlled by Democrats, and 45 for the GOP, leaving 9 seats as toss-ups. These nine seats represent the shift of power. Of these, the GOP will likely win in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, and Louisiana (5 seats). The others are too close to call, but the Republicans currently have an edge in Iowa, Kansas, and North Carolina (3 seats). As long as the GOP candidates do not make a misstep, and the president continues to lose the trust of the people, there should be no reason why the Republicans cannot take the Senate.

The Republicans will also maintain control over the House of Representatives. Currently there are 188 seats controlled by the Democrats and 230 by the GOP, leaving 17 toss-up seats. Even if the Democrats were to win all 17 seats, which is unlikely, they still wouldn’t have enough seats to reclaim the House.

What does all of this mean to our federal government? A transition in the Senate to the Republicans would obviously mean a change in power. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid would no longer be controlling the agenda. Over the last two years, the Republican controlled House produced over 300 pieces of legislation for review by the Senate, some partisan, some non-partisan. Nonetheless, Sen. Reid blocked the legislation from being read and acted on, thereby essentially killing it. By removing the Reid logjam, much more legislation will be acted upon in the Senate and go to the president for his signature.

In terms of gubernatorial races, the Democrats have 15 states, the Republicans have 21, leaving 14 toss-up states. Of these, Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan will likely go Republican, Rhode Island will go Democratic, and the rest are virtual dead heats. In the end, Republicans will likely have more states than the Democrats.

Some will say, “So, it sounds like the decisions have already been made for us; why should we bother to vote?” First, we have to remember the data expressed here is based on polls only. They may be accurate, then again the polls have been known to be wrong before. Second, it is your duty as an American citizen to vote. It is the one act we are allowed to influence the direction of our government. If you cannot put forth the effort to perform this simple act, you do not have the right to criticize the government.

Then again, there are people who are not qualified to vote; who have no idea how the government is organized or works, what the issues are, or know the people running. These are the people the media pounces on with their advertising and spin. So, let me amend my argument; If you are cognizant of how government works, and you know what the issues are and who the people are, then, Yes, there is no excuse for you not to vote. Everyone else should just stay home.

Keep the Faith!

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5 Responses to “GET READY FOR THE 2014 MID-TERM ELECTIONS”

“You bet I’ll be voting in the Maryland elections. We are trying to stop a person who has wasted millions in the healthcare exchange debacle and stop a 3rd term of tax increases. We are the only State that taxes the rainfall and the numbers of times you flush the toilet! We are trying to stem the flow of businesses and residents out of the State.”

“When I was actively engaged with Job’s Daughters – in the bethel and in the state line, I would always ask the girls who were approaching their 18th birthdays what the FIRST thing they were going to do. The first couple of times I’d ask the question, I’d get a blank stare and a stumbled statement. Then, I’d tell them – the FIRST THING you do when you turn 18 is go down to the DMV, get your new license AND REGISTER TO VOTE. Then, I would tell them that it was not enough that they simply register to vote, they had to actually get up off their behinds and go out and actually VOTE in the elections – read up on the issues, do their homework on the candidates, and vote their consciences. I never told them to vote one way or the other – just get out and vote. After a couple of times saying this, the word got around the state and the girls would answer with the right statement. And, I’m proud to say of those girls – who are now in their late 20’s with families of their own – they are all pretty much ENGAGED in the upcoming elections – one way or the other.

I used to explain that generations of men AND women had fought, bled, and died so that we today could have the right, privilege, and responsibility to engage our leaders and determine how our government functioned, but ONLY if we actually exercised our right to VOTE. And, if we said that we didn’t know anyone, didn’t understand the issue, or whatever excuse to not vote, what we were REALLY doing is dismissing all those sacrifices over hundreds of years by millions of men and women and saying that it didn’t really matter.

NO ONE, with any form of conscience, could possibly say that these sacrifices were trivial or unimportant, so many of these girls took their civic responsibilities seriously as they matured into adulthood…my daughter being one of them.

Thanks for the commentaries Tim. In another week or so, we should know for sure, and for better or for worse, where the country is pointed.”

“Tim, this is a great post and very timely. You made some great points. Keep up the great work.”

A K.A. of Washington, DC wrote…

“As much as I cannot stand the GOP establishment RINOs, I will be there to vote straight Republican ticket next week. Both parties have moved towards bigger and bigger government solutions, but at least the GOP is not a bunch of America hating neo-Marxists. Democrat Party has been completely taken over its progressive caucus (happened after the 2010 massacre). All moderates either lost their elections or were run out by the party (like Lieberman).”

A J.L. of San Diego, California wrote…

“I no longer vote in any election stemming from a vow a few years ago when the state of California acting under authority of the US EPA regulated many of us out of our careers and devastated our wealth. I have sworn never to vote again in this country and never will; and especially in California where a conservative vote means nothing anyway and many other parts of the country where voter fraud is alive and well. This is no longer a government for the people. I no longer consider myself an American and basically just live here as the US, today, is not what I remember.”

A P.A. of Basin, Wyoming wrote…

“J.L. – I hear you, but why not leave the PDRC and move to a red state? Or why not become active to break up California into several states, where the conservative regions would again have a voice?”

“Each American should decide either they want a powerful United States as before we had or same weak one that we have it now. So common sense tells us vote for powerful America; then vote for republicans.”